Chapter 66: The Rich Woman's Long Legs in Black Stockings
"It looks like the hybrid rice research plan needs to go back on the agenda." Kenichi scratched his head.
That talk with Nagato had not been a total waste. At the very least, Nagato had shown a sliver of openness. Kenichi just needed to bring real experimental results first.
It was the same in his previous life, too. You made a grand promise, then fought to secure funding, then worked until you forgot what sleep tasted like. Investors rarely moved until they could smell profit in the air.
Relying on Akatsuki had always been part of Kenichi's plan. Research was expensive, and having an organization backing him was the cleanest solution. Root's support had made his teacher's experiments far smoother back then, and it was precisely why they had been able to build their own lab in the first place.
Kenichi wanted to copy that model.
Besides, Akatsuki had no shortage of talent, and no shortage of "materials."
He glanced down at the tiny scrap in his hand and smiled faintly.
"Jade, that AI you mentioned before," Sasori asked from beside him, curiosity surfacing again. "Is it really possible?"
Kenichi paused, remembering he was not alone.
"It's artificial intelligence, Gyoku," Kenichi corrected patiently, then added in a gentler tone, "And you can just call me Kenichi."
Sasori was the type who chased eternity. His thinking was strange, but it was also sharp. In a way, he was an unconventional scientist, and Kenichi had to admit it.
If he could pull Sasori closer, that would be a profitable friendship in every sense of the word.
"Fine, Kenichi." Sasori accepted it immediately, as if the name itself did not matter. His eyes stayed fixed on the same question. "Then how would this artificial intelligence actually be implemented?"
Kenichi scratched his head. He had only thrown the idea out earlier to find common ground, but Sasori had latched onto it like a needle into thread.
In Kenichi's old world, when people talked about puppets, the strongest "puppets" were robots. No strings, no direct control, yet they moved. They acted. They obeyed commands.
And once you mentioned robots, artificial intelligence followed like a shadow.
In science fiction, people argued about it endlessly, from machine uprisings to the cold logic of a world ruled by code. But in the current ninja world, even saying the term out loud felt like dragging tomorrow into today.
"It needs more research," Kenichi said, choosing his words carefully. "But the first step is simple in principle. Use chakra as an energy source. If the puppet can move by relying on chakra, you've already built a foundation."
Sasori listened without interrupting, walking at an even pace beside him through Amegakure's streets.
"After that, you need a set of behavioral logic," Kenichi continued. "Rules. Reactions. Priorities. That part is the headache."
The way Sasori listened gave Kenichi a strange sensation, like he had suddenly become a teacher lecturing a student.
Thinking about artificial intelligence left Kenichi with mixed feelings. He still could not fully grasp the ninja world's level of technology.
Computers existed. Kenichi was sure of that. He had seen them in Konoha, rare and oddly out of place, like a modern tool dropped into an older era.
Yet there was no internet binding the world together. No obvious network infrastructure driving a true technological leap. Electricity was everywhere, but progress felt selective, almost willful.
And then there was his teacher.
Kenichi remembered something even more absurd from the future. Orochimaru had once built a mechanized Naruto that could absorb the Nine Tails' chakra and become a jinchuriki.
It was outrageous.
As expected of his teacher. The man clearly hoarded the ninja world's "core technology" in his sleeves.
"If that's the case," Sasori murmured, genuinely interested, "then it's worth trying. Complicated, but possible."
For a puppeteer, the idea of a machine responding to spoken commands, even performing tasks without strings or direct control, was temptation itself.
"So you're coming with me?" Kenichi asked, feeling conflicted.
Sasori coming along was not a bad thing, but Kenichi had no idea what his teacher would think. And if he brought Sasori to the experimental base, Orochimaru would almost certainly have opinions.
Sasori, however, spoke first, his tone unexpectedly upbeat. "Since I've joined Akatsuki, I'm planning to set up my own base in the Land of Rain. Kenichi, do you want to come?"
Kenichi looked at him.
Sasori was talking more than expected, with more expression than before. It was hard not to suspect he had made changes to his body that affected his mental state, or at least loosened whatever restraints he once kept tight.
"Building a base costs a lot," Kenichi said, unable to hide a hint of envy.
He had money, sure, but a base meant infrastructure, equipment, space, security. And his optional mission, establishing his own laboratory, was still unfinished. Doing it in the Land of Fire was unsafe. The Land of Rain, though, was a better choice.
In the future, this place rarely suffered sabotage from hostile ninja, at least until Akatsuki was fully exposed and drew the attention of the major villages.
It was also conveniently located. Not too far from the great nations, not too isolated to travel.
"I have a lot of money," Sasori said casually.
Only then did Kenichi remember. Sasori had a puppet of the Third Kazekage. Someone with that kind of leverage could make money in ways most people could not even imagine.
Still, how had the Third Kazekage died at Sasori's hands? Kenichi searched his memory and came up empty.
"My dearest friend," Kenichi declared, patting Sasori on the shoulder with sudden sincerity. In that moment, he made a firm decision. He was going to be friends with this man.
Of course, Kenichi had no intention of groveling to the rich. If he really wanted to butter someone up, why not go cling to that rich woman's long legs in black stockings?
Konan was wealthy enough to make the word "funding" sound like a joke. Kenichi even suspected she could mass produce explosive tags. Otherwise, how had she ever produced something as ridiculous as six hundred billion explosive tags?
Even if Kakuzu worked himself to death every day, that number was still absurd.
For now, Kenichi declined Sasori's invitation. He needed to return and report what happened today to his teacher. He also needed to get back to the lab and isolate Zetsu's genes.
He wanted to see what was so special about the Otsutsuki line.
After that, there was still the thermobaric weapon research to push forward, and the hybrid rice plan could not be left to rot. He did not need results overnight, just enough progress to justify approaching Nagato again.
Either way, his schedule was packed.
But thermobaric weapons remained his top priority.
The war between Kumogakure and Konoha was a major event. If he did not take the chance to test the weapon's power, it would be a waste.
"Teacher, I'm back!" Kenichi pushed open the door to the experimental base.
Inside, Orochimaru was waiting.
He was holding one of his arms, and he was looking at Kenichi.
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